The Queen's decision to stay away from the civil marriage of Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles is not a snub, the prince's aides have insisted.

"The civil ceremony was always meant to be low key," a spokesman for Clarence House said, adding the prince was happy with the arrangements.

The Queen will attend the blessing and reception at Windsor Castle on 8 April.

A Buckingham Palace spokeswoman said the Queen was "very pleased to give the wedding reception at the castle".

"The Queen and the rest of the Royal Family will, of course, be going to the service of dedication at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle," the spokeswoman said.

The Duke of Edinburgh will also not attend the civil ceremony in Windsor's Guildhall.

However, Prince Charles' sons William and Harry will attend and may be asked to be official witnesses, Clarence House added.

Legal row

Mrs Parker Bowles' children, Tom and Laura, are also planning to be at the civil ceremony.

It could be security, that she doesn't approve, or that she doesn't care - a position which would unite her with the majority of her subjects

Dr David StarkeyHistorian

The spokeswoman said: "The Queen's prime concern is that the civil ceremony should be as low key as possible, in line with the couple's wishes."

Asked if this was a royal snub, the spokeswoman replied: "The Queen is attending the service of dedication and paying for the reception - this is not a snub."

The revelation comes on the heels of concerns over whether a member of the Royal Family can in fact marry in a civil ceremony.

In response, the Lord Chancellor Lord Falconer - the most senior legal figure in the land - is to give a written statement to the House of Lords on Wednesday outlining the legal position.

'Security reasons'

Commenting on the Queen's decision to stay away historian Dr David Starkey said "one can only speculate on the reason" behind the Queen's decision.

"It could be security, that she doesn't approve, or that she doesn't care - a position which would unite her with the majority of her subjects," he added.

Lord St John of Fawsley, a constitutional expert who knows Prince Charles, said the Queen had made a "good decision" not to attend the civil ceremony and it was a decision she had made amicably with the engaged couple.

This will be perceived around the world as a massive snub to both Camilla and Charles